ENGLISH
REFERENCE

thread

n. · v.
US //ˈθɹɛd// UK //θɹˈɛd// thread
  1. 1 sewing string (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a long, thin strand of cotton or silk used for sewing clothes.

    a fine cord of twisted textile fibres used in needlework and garment construction.

    Example

    She chose a blue thread that perfectly matched the colour of her new dress.

    Example

    The tailor selected a high-tensile silk thread to ensure the seams of the heavy coat would not burst under pressure.
  2. 2 internet messages (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Computing

    a series of connected messages or comments on a website or social media app.

    a chronological sequence of online posts or messages related to a single original topic.

    Example

    I found a very helpful thread on the forum about how to fix my laptop.

    Example

    The discussion thread grew to over three hundred comments as users debated the merits of the new software update.
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  1. 3 logical connection (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the idea or story that connects different parts of a book or speech.

    a consistent theme or logical progression that connects the successive points of a narrative or argument.

    Example

    It was hard to follow the thread of his story because he kept changing the subject.

    Example

    The detective struggled to find a common thread between the three seemingly unrelated crimes committed across the city.
  2. 4 computing process (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Computing

    a small part of a computer program that can run at the same time as other parts.

    the smallest unit of programmed instructions that can be managed independently by a scheduler.

    Example

    The application uses a separate thread to download files so the screen doesn't freeze.

    Example

    By implementing multi-threading, the developers allowed the engine to process physics calculations and rendering logic simultaneously.

  3. 5 screw groove (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Engineering

    the raised spiral line around a screw or bolt.

    a helical ridge on a cylindrical fastener or within a hole, designed to convert rotation into linear motion.

    Example

    The screw wouldn't go in because the thread was damaged.

    Example

    The engineer specified a fine thread for the adjustment bolt to allow for more precise control over the tension.
  4. 6 to prepare a needle (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to put a piece of thread through the small hole in a needle.

    to pass a length of filament through the eye of a needle or the guides of a sewing machine.

    Example

    He had to squint in the dim light to thread the needle.

    Example

    Before she could begin the embroidery, she had to thread the machine with a delicate metallic yarn that frequently snapped.

  5. 7 to move through (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to move carefully through a crowded or narrow place.

    to make one's way through a series of obstacles or a crowded space with precision.

    Example

    The waiter had to thread his way through the crowded restaurant with a heavy tray.

    Example

    The motorcyclist expertly threaded through the stationary traffic, reaching the front of the queue just as the lights turned green.
  6. 8 hair removal (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to remove unwanted hair using a piece of twisted string.

    to remove facial hair by using a doubled and twisted thread to pluck multiple hairs simultaneously.

    Example

    She goes to the salon every three weeks to have her eyebrows threaded.

    Example

    Threading is often preferred over waxing for sensitive skin because it does not involve the use of harsh chemicals or heat.
Origin

From Middle English thred, þred, threed, from Old English þrǣd, from Proto-Germanic þrēduz, from Proto-Indo-European treh₁-tu-s, from *terh₁- (“rub, twist”). Cognates Cognate with Yola dreade (“thread”), Saterland Frisian Träid (“thread, wire”), Cimbrian draat (“string, thread”), Dutch draad (“thread, wire”), German Draht (“thread, wire”), Luxembourgish Drot (“wire”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk and Swedish tråd (“thread, wire”), Faroese tráður (“thread”), Icelandic þráður (“thread”). Non-Germanic cognates include Albanian dredh (“twist, turn”). More at throw.

Word family
Idioms3 entries

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